Chapter 13
After dinner, he said he needed to return to the office to handle a file, and thoughtfully arranged a ride for me.
Perhaps even he didn’t realize how anxious he appeared, as he kept glancing at his watch throughout the meal.
After sending me off, he immediately hopped into a taxi, and I quickly changed to another one.
Eventually, I followed him to his destination- the Grand Theater in California.
Outside, I saw a large billboard with the musical The Rose Girl, starring Hallie, whom
I hadn’t seen in five years.
Hallie also loved music, and after five years of study, she had become a renowned musical theater actress.
The show was so popular that all the tickets were sold out.
I watched as Elijah entered with a bouquet of roses, unable to get a ticket myself.
I hid not far from the staff entrance.
I silently watched the door, fearing they might come out together.
I don’t know how long I waited, but then I heard familiar voices.
Hallie, holding roses and smiling shyly, was chatting with Elijah.
Seeing them together, I couldn’t help but think, they truly are a perfect match.
I was not far from them, just obscured by streetlights and parked cars.
When they emerged, they stopped in their
tracks.
Hallie, with a demure smile, said, “I didn’t expect you to actually come to see me perform.”
“1
Elijah replied, “It’s your debut here; I thought I should come support you.”
Hallie smiled and asked, “How has your
relationship with Ashie been after six years?”
“When I left, Ashie’s emotions were very unstable. I heard that people often struggle to accept becoming disabled.”
At these words, Elijah’s smile vanished instantly, and his face showed clear displeasure.
His tone turned cold:
“Mm.”
It seemed he had long grown tired of me.
Yet I remained blissfully unaware.
With that thought, my vision blurred, and I was suddenly jolted from behind, fallingContentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!
20
to the ground and scattering my cochlear
implant.
A
My world grew silent.
I could no longer hear anything as I searched for my cochlear implant on the ground.
Soon, a familiar hand appeared in front of
me.
I looked up to see Elijah.
He had found my cochlear implant and handed it to me.
His gentle smile was a stark contrast to his earlier demeanor.
I hurriedly put on the implant, and only when
I heard Elijah’s voice did I feel a sense of relief.
“Ashie, why are you here?”
My relief was not from his voice but from finding my cochlear implant.
I ignored Elijah and turned to Hallie, “You’re back. Why didn’t you let me know?”
Elijah, noticing my reaction, quickly explained, “Ashie, don’t misunderstand, we…”
I cut him off, “How could I ever like a deaf
person?”
“I had no choice but to marry her!”
“I have no love for her, only pity and guilt.”
As I spoke each word, his face turned pale.
“Elijah, let’s get a divorce.”